The “10,000 steps a day” goal has become popular, but it started as a marketing concept. While it’s a great target for many, what really matters is moving more, more often.

What research shows:

• Walking improves heart health, brain function, and mood

• More daily steps are linked with lower risk of disease and death

• Even 10 to 15 minutes of brisk walking per day shows benefits

• Aiming for any increase in daily steps improves health

If 10,000 feels like too much, start with less and build up. The most important step is the next one.